Knappogue Castle 12 Year Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Distiller Details
Knappogue Castle
Bushmills Distillery, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
WebsitePrice Range
Premium — $51–$100
Where to Buy
THL: What is it?
Distilled in copper pot stills and aged in bourbon oak barrels for 12 years, this single malt Irish whiskey is an independent brand inspired by the real Knappogue Castle in Ireland. This release will be the new standard bottling for the brand.
THL: Why should you try it?
The Irish whiskey industry began to decline during Prohibition in the United States and remained in a downward spiral over the following decades. The larger distillers banded together as part of a consolidation effort to preserve the business, and others were bought by liquor conglomerates. Knappogue Castle is an independent brand launched in effort to revive Ireland's whiskey tradition. They use traditional ingredients and techniques to distill a fine bottle of whiskey.
THL: Who makes it?
Though this is distilled at the Bushmills distillery, the Knappogue Castle brand represents something very different. In 1966, an American couple bought a 15th-century Irish castle, Knappogue Castle, with the intention of restoring it. During the restoration process, they began to collect barrels of vintage Irish whiskey and fell in love with the tradition of distilling in the country. The couple's son then launched Knappogue Castle into a whiskey brand, making it one of the few indie whiskey brands operating in Ireland.
THL: What does it taste like?
Cream, malt, marshmallows
THL: How should you drink it?
Neat.
